Instagram is reportedly testing a new feature that would allow users to share other people’s posts in their own feeds.
The ‘repost’ feature was first spotted by social media consultant Matt Navarra in a video posted on Twitter by Instagram boss Adam Mosseri.
In the video, Mosseri uses his own account to demonstrate Instagram’s Archive feature, but when he opens his profile, a repost tab is visible alongside the usual posts, reels and tagged photos tabs above his grid.
Navarra tweeted a screenshot of the profile page with a large hand emoji pointing to the repost tab and the words ‘What’s dis Adam?’
Instagram has since confirmed to TechCrunch that it is planning to test the repost function with a small number of users.
‘We’re exploring the ability to reshare posts in Feed – similar to how you can reshare in Stories – so people can share what resonates with them, and so original creators are credited for their work,’ a spokesperson from Meta told TechCrunch.
TechCrunch suggests that the repost tab will likely be home to all the posts that users have reshared on their accounts.
Navarra tweeted a screenshot of the profile page with a large hand emoji pointing to the repost tab and the words ‘What’s dis Adam?’
Navarra spotted the new tab in a video posted by Mosseri to demonstrate Instagram’s Archive feature
Many Instagram users already share posts with friends in their Stories and DMs, but there currently isn’t a direct way to share another user’s post in your feed.
There are third-party apps that offer this ability, but the addition of a repost feature would remove the need for workarounds.
The concept of reposts on social media arguably originates from Twitter’s ‘retweet’ feature, which was introduced in 2009.
This has since been adopted by other platforms including Facebook, which allows users to share other people’s posts on their own profile.
TikTok is reportedly testing its own ‘repost’ button that allows users to share videos on the platform with their followers.
Unlike Twitter’s retweet, however, reposted videos don’t show up on your own TikTok profile – as they’re only sent out to your friends’ For You feeds.
Many Instagram users already share posts with friends in their Stories and DMs, but there currently isn’t a direct way to share another user’s post in your feed.
It is thought that Instagram has been working on the repost feature for several months, as app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi spotted the feature in development back in May
It is thought that Instagram has been working on the repost feature for several months, as app researcher Alessandro Paluzzi spotted the feature in development back in May.
According to screenshots shared by Paluzzi on Twitter, users will be able to find the repost option in the share menu.
The screenshots also suggest that users will have the option to add their own thoughts when resharing a post – in a similar way to a ‘quote tweet’ on Twitter.
It is unknown if or when Instagram will release its repost functionality to all users. More details are likely to become available once the features enters the testing phase.
Responding to Navarra’s tweet, some Instagram users welcomed the new function.
‘We’ll finally be able to reposts someone’s posts without the need to use some weird 3rd party apps? That’s the best news in a while…’ wrote one user.
‘Can finally… hopefully get rid of that third party app now… eventually,’ wrote another.
Responding to Navarra’s tweet, some Instagram users welcomed the new function. However, others lamented the addition of yet another new feature designed to make Instagram more like other social networks
However, others lamented the addition of yet another new feature designed to make Instagram more like other social networks.
‘Please for the love of God… I can’t keep up with all this,’ wrote one user.
‘They just can’t stop adding s*** huh,’ wrote other.
While another wrote: ‘More TikTokstagramming – I mean it’s a handy feature ..’
HOW HAVE FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM COPIED SNAPCHAT OVER THE YEARS?
March 2016 – Filters
One of the first signs Facebook was copying Snapchat was in March 2016 when it bought MSQRD, an app that overlays silly live filters to your selfies.
The app lets users apply filters to their faces – similar to Snapchat ‘Lens’ filters.
One of the first signs Facebook was copying Snapchat was in March 2016 when it bought MSQRD, an app that overlays silly live filters to your selfies. The app lets users apply filters to their faces (pictured right) – similar to Snapchat ‘Lens’ filters (pictured left)
April 2016 – QR codes
In April of last year, Facebook added QR codes to profiles in Messenger.
Snapchat uses QR codes to allow people to add other users without having to search.
December 2016 – Location-based filters and in-app camera
Facebook introduced custom location-based camera filters that overlay pictures and videos – similar to Snapchat’s ‘geo-filters’.
Users build ‘frames’ on any design platform, submit them to Facebook and then friends nearby will have access to the creations.
In the same month, a ‘Messenger Camera’ was designed to make it quicker to capture and share photos and videos without having to dip out of a conversations – a feature that already existed on Snapchat.
In December, Facebook introduced custom location-based camera filters (pictured right) that overlay pictures and videos – similar to Snapchat’s ‘geo-filters’ (pictured left)
March 2017 – Stories
In March, Facebook introduced Facebook Stories along with two other new Snapchat-like features – Facebook Camera and Direct.
Facebook Stories highlights decorative content in a horizontal layout over News Feed that disappears in 24 hours – just like Snapchat Stories.
Facebook Stories (pictured right) highlights decorative content in a horizontal layout over News Feed that disappears in 24 hours – just like Snapchat Stories (pictured left)
The section in the app called ‘Direct’ appears to be very similar to Snapchat’s feed for one-to-one group messaging.
The update encourages users to use Facebook’s camera feature and also lets them put friends’ stories at the top of their News Feed.
In the same month it also introduced ‘Messenger Day’, which lets user share photos and videos with illustrated filters and stickers that vanish in 24 hours – just like Snapchat Stories.
November 2017 – Streaks
In November, Facebook copied Snapchat by testing a new feature that encourages friends to send messages back and forth for consecutive days.
Like ‘Snapstreaks’ on Snapchat, Facebook Messenger ‘Streaks’ have emoji next to the name of anyone who users are regularly messaging.
According to Facebook, this will encourage users to ‘keep your streak going’.
In March, Facebook introduced ‘Messenger Day’, which lets user share photos and videos with illustrated filters and stickers that vanish in 24 hours – just like Snapchat Stories
January 2018 – Screenshots
In January, Instagram, the Facebook-owned app, began testing a feature that lets your followers know if you’ve taken a sneaky screenshot of their Story.
The Snapchat-inspired feature is expected to launch on the picture-sharing platform soon and is currently being trialled in Japan.
May 2018 – Bitmoji
As with Filters, Snaps, and Stories, Facebook revealed it is duplicating the Bitmoji feature used on Snapchat.
Within the code of Facebook’s Android app, developers have found an unreleased functionality that lets users ‘build personalized, illustrated versions of themselves for use as stickers in Messenger and comments.’
November 2021 – Rage Shake
Instagram copied Snapchat with the launch of a feature called ‘Rage Shake’.
Users just need to shake their phone with the Instagram app open and a little pop-up appears that lets them report an annoying technical issue.
It’s very similar to Snapchat’s ‘Shake to Report’, which already lets users shake their smartphone to report a bug.
